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Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)
Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)
Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)
Audiobook4 hours

Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)

Written by Patrick Carman

Narrated by David Pittu

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

The highly anticipated Book Five of the #1 bestselling The 39 Clues series.

A strange telegram lures fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, deep into Russia and away from the only trustworthy adult they know. Signed with the initials NRR, the telegram launches a race to uncover a treasure stolen by the Nazis and the truth about the murder of the last Russian royal family. All too soon, the treasure hunt starts to smell like a Lucian trap. But the bait might just be irresistible . . . what will Amy and Dan risk to find out what really happened on the night their parents died?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 11, 2009
ISBN9780545222471
Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)
Author

Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty books, including the acclaimed series the Land of Elyon and Floors and the teen superhero novel Thirteen Days to Midnight. A multimedia pioneer, Patrick authored The Black Circle, the fifth title in the 39 Clues series, and the Dark Eden, Skeleton Creek, Trackers, Fizzopolis, and Voyagers series. An enthusiastic reading advocate, Patrick has visited more than a thousand schools, developed village library projects in Central America, and created author outreach programs for communities. He lives in Walla Walla, Washington, with his family. You can visit him online at www.patrickcarman.com.

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Reviews for Black Circle, The (The 39 Clues, Book 5)

Rating: 4.6234567901234565 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

162 ratings30 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    May be a little more clues to get Amy and Dan and them trying to interpret those to get to the end would have been interesting.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good continuation. Really like the way actual historical events and places are worked in. It is subtle but plants the seed for an inquisitive mind to pursue at a later date. In this case it was the events surrounding the last Russian royal family. Definitely a series to recommend but probably more interesting to younger teens rather than older ones.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a fun suspenseful book so hard to put down
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The way the authors of this series blend fact with fiction is absolutely astounding to me. I feel compelled to look up every little "fact" stated to see if it's true or simply part of the Cahill canon, but I stop myself because I REFUSE to destroy the temporary suspension of disbelief with this series (at least until I've finished it).
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Carman, P. (2009). The 39 Clues: The black circle. New York: Scholastic Inc.0545060451168 Pages.Appetizer: Amy and Dan wake to discover they've received a telegram that resumes their hunt for the clues and sends them to the Cairo Airport and on to Russia where they'll uncover secrets related to Rasputin, Anastasia, the Lucian branch. This time around, the siblings are given planted clues, disguises and money from an unknown ally, called NRR. Cautioned that they may be heading for a trap, Amy and Dan follow the unusual clues and form an alliance with Hamilton Holt. This turn was a bit surprising to me. Mostly because, in the previous books, Reagan Holt was the only member of the Holt family that seemed sympathetic. So, I had a difficult time liking the Holts. Part of this could be because I'm still not over the booger flicking scene in the previous book. Cringe and ick. Ick and cringe.There were a few moments were I also had trouble suspending disbelief with this addition to the series. Amy and Dan are given disguises early on in this book that allow them to pass for adults. I had a little trouble believing that. Mainly with Dan. His disguise involved a goatee. And in my mind, the result of an eleven year old wandering around with a goatee is ridiculous, not believable. So, I'm betting Patrick Carman has been a busy, busy guy these last few years. Not only did his addition to the 39 Clues come out in 2009, but he also had The Skeleton Creek series come out last year too. It just so happens, that series is also a multi-media literature series as well, with every few chapters being paired with a video for viewers to follow another point of view of the ghost story.Dinner Conversation:"Amy Cahill liked to be the first one up in the morning. But not if it was because someone was screaming outside her hotel-room door" (p. 1)."Most of the time, Dan Cahill would rather show up to school in his underwear than get involved in his sister's love life. But this was different" (p. 10)."She watched as he looked at it, his attention riveted on the black-and-white image of a couple, young and clearly in love, standing in front of the American embassy in Russia."It's really them, isn't it?" asked Dan."You bet it is," Amy answered.In Paris, Dan had lost his only picture of their parents and Amy knew what having a new one meant to him. But it had also sent them both into a tailspin.Mom, Dad, what were you doing in Russia?" (pp. 20-21)."That's the best story you've told me in your whole life," said Dan. "I don't even care if it's true or not.""Dan, I think it is true. We of all people should believe it, even if history buffs don't buy it. Rasputin was a Cahill! Maybe we're even from the same branch of the family!""Like we could be superheroes!?!" Dan's eyes bugged out.""Does he always talk that way?" NRR asked Amy, clearly amused."He does. It's a problem.""He'll grow out of it."Dan's head swiveled back and forth. They had formed some sort of girl alliance!" (p. 137).To Go with the Meal:A teacher could capitalize on this book and share some of the history of Russia and the USSR. Also, I'd argue that it might even be necessary to show students an image of The Motherland Calls statue. There's a whole scene that involves the giant monument and it's very hard to visualize if you don't know what it looks like. But why stop there? A teacher could provide images on a lot of other Russian and Siberian landmarks as well.A teacher can also go into the history about Levin and the Russian Revolution. (Although, it's also worth noting, the book pretty much avoids mentioning the change over to communism completely. Intentional? I don't know.)I think kids would also love to focus in on the legends and truths about Rasputin and Anastasia. When I was in ninth grade, I went through a long phrase where I tried to find out everything I could about Anastasia and I know I'm not alone. So, this book could be a jumping off point for other kids to do the same.A more science-y topic would be to discuss hemophilia. It could lead to a lesson about blood. Or a teacher could also focus on the materials and elements that make up the clues that the Cahills are searching for.Tasty Rating: !!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    the series just gets better and better. this one was very good although the ending could have been a bit better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My fourth-grade son and I are still enjoying the 39 Clues series. This book, which takes place in Russia, was filled with close calls and lots of adventure. Amy and Dan team up with the Holt family and are helped by the mysterious NRR as they race for the fifth clue. This was one of my favorite books in the series, in part because of a number of humorous moments. On to Book 6. . .
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A strange telegram lures fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, deep into Russia and away from the only trustworthy adult they know. Signed with the initials NRR, the telegram launches a race to uncover a treasure stolen by the Nazis and the truth behind the murder of the last Russian royal family. All too soon, the treasure hunt starts to smell like a Lucian trap. But the bait might just be irresistible--what will Amy and Dan risk to find out what really happened on the night their parents died?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was pretty cool. Especially since it was in Russia. It defiantly kept you guessing a lot. For example, I would never believe that Amy and Dan would make an alliance with the Holts. I thought they were just tricking Hamilton Holt when they did....but it turns out it wasn't a trick. But it was really cool. But the bad news is, I didn't get to read about how the Holts found 2 of the clues. The whole NRR thing was kind of random too...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Out of all the five books, this is by far the best in the series. Carman brought the series back to where it should be, it had the feel of the first two books. Dan and Amy are in Russia gathering clues, and they have to make an alliance with a team they don't want to, but need to. As the story unfolds we learn something about the character of Irina Spasky. I hope we learn more about her, and the hint that is dropped is explored more. I really like what Carman did with her. He really developed her and made her an interesting character. I hope we can learn more about her and her past. I also like how Carman got away from Amy and Dan bickering all the time. In books 3 and 4, that was a major draw back for me. Dan and Amy are in the race for their lives, and they have to battle different members of the family tree, and they have to fight? For me, that never worked, and took away from the story. Glad to see that Carman didn't that in this book. It was such a pleasure to read. Dan and Amy have to face something in this book that they never had to face in the past. They have a time limit. Amy and Dan get a mysterious card saying that they just have a set amount of hours to do what they need to, and if they don't, all will be lost. I also loved how Carman kept the story in Russia, and let the reader in on some of the history and interesting facts about Russia, I felt that this aspect was missing from books 3 and 4. The reader gets drawn in and doesn't stop reading to the last page. This book has a lot of Russian history, and it was presented in such an interesting way. One more thing I'll say that made The Black Circle such an interesting read..... while Dan and Amy solve puzzles and clues, they have a chance to learn more about their parents. At one point, one character tells them, "Make sure you want to know something. Once you know it, you can't unknow it." That being said, this is a fantastic read! This is the first book I've read by Patrick Carmen and I may look up more books this author has written. This is fast paced and draws the reader in. I just hope that Carman gets to write more books in this series. Honestly, there wasn't any boring parts. Kuddos to Patrick Carmen, great job done!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Amy and Dan Cahill head to Russia for another clue. They get a telegram from a mysterious person NRR. They join forces with the Holts to travel around Russia looking for clues. They find their last clue in the Amber Room where they also find info about their parents.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amy and Dan are getting closer to finding out about what really happened to their parents and that they were doing what they are doing now. This book for me compared to the other series is better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dan & Amy head to Russia and make an unlikely alliance to find the next clue. Another fast, action-packed read as the siblings continue their quest to be first in finding all 39 clues-- although they once again are helped by someone they don't know. Elementary and middle school; low level readers in high school. Recommended if preceding books have been read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In book 5 of the 39 Clues series, Dan and Amy cahill recieved a mysterious telegram from the unknown NRR which led them on a chase for 1 of the 39 Clues deep in Russia, away from their babysitter (au pair),into what could be a devious trap made for them by the other clue-hunting teams, with nothing but codes, fake passports, disguises, and a gold Visa card, all courtesy of NRR. After experiencing several murders attempted on them all around Russia, they made an unlikely ally, found the mysterious NRR, found the clue, andmore information about the mysterious Madrigals and their parents. An exciting sequel to Book 4: Beyond the Grave as the clue hunt continue to lead Dan and Amy into unexpected places of the world, entering each branch's secret hideout and discovering clues which could make them the most powerful human being in the whole world!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My fave part about this book ? was definitely NRR!!

    So mysterious.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The book was really good but compared to the other books in the series I think this wasn't that good
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the better books in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It is so so so good you really got it try it out It was my favorite so far
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A strange telegram lures fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, deep into Russia and away from the only trustworthy adult they know. Signed with the initials NRR, the telegram launches a race to uncover a treasure stolen by the Nazis and the truth about the murder of the last Russian royal family. All too soon, the treasure hunt starts to smell like a Lucian trap. But the bait might just be irresistible . . . what will Amy and Dan risk to find out what really happened on the night their parents died?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Children's fiction; Adventure. The fifth installment in the series delves a little deeper into Hamilton "Hammer" Holt, as the two orphans develop another temporary alliance with one of their competitors.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Amy and Dan Cahill are off on their next adventures this time sans Nellie. Receiving a note including tickets to Russia, the twins head off for their quest to find the next clue. They team up with Holts because this quest is time sensitive and they know that they can't do it alone.Another fun installment of youth vs. evil. Looking forward to the next one!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed how the Romanovs were involved in this story. It's an interesting part of history which I hope children pursue after reading this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Following the success of the fourth book in the series, I was quite pleased to discover that I liked this book just as much as the Egypt adventure, if not a bit more. Amy and Dan are recuperating from their most recent ordeal, when a telegram snaps them back into the action. An anonymous sender wants them to travel to Russia in pursuit of new secrets. They don't know whether this is a trap or genuine help, but Amy and Dan can't resist the lead; the clue clearly indicates personal knowledge that only they and Grace knew about. While Nellie is still sleeping back in the hotel, they take the proffered money and flight tickets, and head to Lucian-riddled Russia.Once there, the mysterious informant continues to aid them, with disguises, mysterious lights that lead to secret entrances, and even decoy information for the competition. Using this guidance, Amy and Dan leave the airport, head to The Motherland Calls statue and create an alliance with Hamilton Holt, and discover another hint in Alexei's playhouse in Yusupov Palace. The Holts head to Siberia, where more clues connect with those that Amy and Dan are finding in the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and the two teams telephone their information to each other. The Kabras are occupied in chasing the belligerent Holts around Siberia, but Dan and Amy still have Irina to contend with. Fortunately, their anonymous helper continues to provide them guidance, and eventually leads them to a personal meeting at the theater hall in the State Kremlin Palace. The whole hunt is tied up with Rasputin and the slaughter of the royal family, along with the rumored disappearance of Princess Anastasia. After they meet their benefactor, Amy and Dan must venture into one of the most dangerous missions they have taken on this wild ride - into a Lucian black circle, where they will find another clue, and information about their parents. If they survive it. The book worked on many levels. The plot was tight, the action just as fast and exciting as in previous stories from the series, and even more believable. The fact that a Lucian of very high authority is secretly helping Amy and Dan, and thus allowing them to get away with infiltrating Lucian strongholds and secrets, is much more believable than the two children doing it all on their own. I don't think this undercuts their abilities; Amy and Dan have proven to be intelligent, resourceful, and brave clue hunters, but the idea that two children can overcome a highly trained organization with centuries of experience is beyond even my suspension of belief. The author does a great job of balancing the help they would certainly need to accomplish this with fresh examples of Amy and Dan having to solve puzzles on their own. The young Cahills are given assistance, but still have to do all the work and a lot of the thinking. Also, the character development continues strong in this book, with Irina further fleshing out beyond just the evil Russian bad guy, and Hamilton Holt stepping up into a prominent role for the first time. The Holts were much more likable in this book, and while I think this is a good change, I was bit irritated by the abrupt transition. This, however, was my one complaint in a book that capitalized on the potential of this series. I hope to read more along the lines of this example as I continue in the hunt.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The 5th in The 39 Clues series, this book takes Dan and Amy Cahill to Russia where they learn about yet-another-famous-relative, Anastasia, the last surviving member of the ruling Romanov family.

    This series is great as far as getting kids hooked and reading. It also throws in some history and culture at the same time. But each book in the series is written by a different author. I loved the first book which was authored by Rick Riordan. This one is written by Patrick Carman and I found the writing to be a bit juvenile. Dan and Amy Cahill are children, but he spends too much time talking about their eating habits (basically junk food) and child-like behavior. It was almost condescending, especially since these kids have managed to thwart villains and solve puzzles all over the world. They are smart and capable protagonists, so the emphasis on child-like behavior seems out of place. Still a fun plot and as always, you're left wanting to grab the sequel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book definitely added some serious depth to Irena while strangely omitting Alstair from the action for most of the book. It seems like faking his death was the death of his character because no one wrote him in with any kind of significance in this story. Carman did a good job of making the characters more believeable and likeable here while working toward an answer as to who is the true villian in this hole mess.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the best books in the series. I liked it but i was confused.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Black Circle by Patrick Carman is the fifth of the original 39 Clues series. Dan and Amy Cahill leave their au pair behind and fly solo to Russia. They are following the clues left by the mysterious NRR.As with previous volumes, The Black Circle includes a hefty bit of E/I (though this one seems more caught up in rumor, than fact). Amy and Dan along with learning about the Lucians, also learn about Anastasia Romanov. And of course — because EVERY famous person is — she was a Cahill.There's a tour of the winter palace as well as some graphic descriptions of the murder of the Tsar and his family. Their deaths are compared to the deaths of Dan and Amy's parents, something that up now has been glossed over. I think this book is the turning point where things start to get more "real" for Dan and Amy, and the descriptions of things become more graphic.For those reviews that complain about things being too easy for Dan and Amy, it is becoming clear that someone (or some organization) is pulling strings for them. As long as they show up, doors will be opened for them. The why and how, though, remains a mystery for later volumes.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have enjoyed each and everyone of the books in this series. After the first one this one was probably my favorite. In the past Dan and Amy have been chased by other families but have not formed any alliances that lasted throughout the book. They were double crossed in each one. It was refreshing to see them make an alliance with the Holts that lasted all the way through the book. Irin played a bigger role in this book. She is probably the one character that I have loved to hate. That is changing somewhat. I have seen another side of her and found out a bit more of her past. I actually saw a part of her heart that makes me feel somewhat sorry for her. I was also glad that they had left the babysitter or au pair out of this one. It gave us a chance to see what Dan and Amy could do on their own without her. They actually had to work together more and fight less. I loved the amount of Russian history we learned. I also like the fact that we were not running from one country to another trying to follow the action. The setting was well described and the characters were developed a little more in this book. All I could say to Patrick Carman about this book is “Well done!”
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is the latest installment of the 39 Clues story, and the action continues to ratchet up. In this book, Amy and Dan realize that their parents may have been on this same search for clues before they died. They are also helped by the mysterious NRR, who ends up being the daughter of Anastasia, the missing princess. As always, the action moves the story along quickly and the history and geography of whatever nation they are in (in this case Russia) is woven into the actual story seamlessly. The children still do not know which branch of the Cahills they are in, and it seems like there are a lot of people in their lives whom they have previously misjudged, but it continues to be a good series. I'll be interested to see how this pans out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Black Circle by Patrick Carmen is the 5th in a series of books called the 39 Clues. This series is about twelve year old Dan and 14 year old Amy a brother and a sister who are challenged to find a series of clues hidden around the world. Also as if that’s not hard enough, they have to find the clues before the other five teams that are also trying to find the clues. The reason everyone is looking for these clues is because the person that solves all of the 39 clues will become the most powerful person in the world. What is really neat about this series is each book is written by a different author, so as the series continues I am introduced to many different writing styles. Some of the authors that have written books in this series are authors like Rick Riodan writer of the Lightning Thief series, Jude Watson writer of the The Last of the Jedi series and Patrick Carman, writer of the The Land of the Elyon series.In this particular installment of the series Dan and Amy receive a mysterious telegram that leads them to Russia. Once in Russia they are challenged to find 7 mini clues that will lead them to a potentially life changing clue hidden deep in the heart of Russia. The pressure to find the clue is heightened when Dan and Amy find out that the clue may tell them why their parents were killed and who it was that did it. Dan and Amy must be careful because Russia is crawling with their competitors the Lucians, and danger and betrayal waits around every corner.I think of all the 39 clues books this one has to be one of my favorites. One reason is I believe the setting Russia matches the underlying theme of this book coldness, brutality and deceit were a never ending trend in this series but especially this particular book. Patrick Carman’s ability to just pull you into the story is incredible. For example, in the beginning of the book they receive a telegram with a short riddle about Dan and an airport locker number on it. The fact that the riddle is about something no one knows about except Dan and Amy made me wonder what could be in that locker and from that point on I just couldn’t put the book down. I admire Patrick Carman’s ability to keep you locked in on the story with things like cliff hangers and intricate riddles it seemed like every time things started to calm down someone would betray the kids or they would make a wrong turn and suddenly be in extreme peril.I really like these books because I just like the idea of the whole thing. Going on a gigantic scavenger hunt in far away countries sounds like the most fun a person could ever have. I also really like these books because no matter who the author is the characters are really easy to relate to. I’d have to say though of all the authors I think Patrick Carmen has been the best at making Dan and Amy seem real. He uses common teen interests and insecurities to make Dan and Amy very likeable characters. I really enjoy not only this book but this entire series and I urge anyone who likes to read to give these books a shot. I guarantee if you give them a chance you will like the